OMEGA MALE

John Fugelsang is a cultural maverick whose glib humor and razor sharp wit provide a reliably entertaining delivery mechanism for his gently challenging views and observations. Imagine an east coast intellectual with a decidedly liberal/progressive disposition who happens to also be a faithful Christian. I call John the "gentleman iconoclast" in that he mercilessly lampoons those who share his faith but not his politics, but always with basic human dignity, respect and humor, even at his most biting.

Not all men's coaches are created equal, and Tyson Adams truly stands out from the burgeoning crowd with his unique approach to men's inner health. San Diego resident Tyson identifies himself as a trauma-informed men’s coach who utilizes Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) to help men outgrow unwanted sexual behavior such as habitual pornography use, objectification and infidelity. The majority of men's coaches today seem focused on leadership, success and empowerment. While those things interest Tyson, too, his primary domain lies in healing. Our conversation ranges from deeply personal exchanges about our own formative experiences with pornography to sweeping philosophical explorations of intimacy, masturbation, circumcision and more. By far the raciest episode!  

Spoiler alert - this episode gets deeply esoteric! Lisa brings a uniquely spiritual perspective to our topic, leading into new territory for the podcast. Speaking from a point of view that incorporates considerations of karmic purpose and mission, she discusses the connection between violence and subverted sexual energy and how the capacities inherent to a male incarnation might differ from those of a female one. Her take on the terms "masculine" and "feminine" as referring to forces available to all humans is revelatory. It's a pleasure to hear how Lisa manages to translate nuanced spiritual concepts into straightforward, comprehensible language.

Teaching through story, song, metaphor and poetry can be so much more powerful than the mere intellectual transference of ideas. Stephen Jenkinson employs his extraordinary mastery of language in loyal service of that more creative, illustrative sharing of wisdom in ways only a true elder is equipped to do. In so doing, he is an inspiration and a pleasure just to listen to.

John Hamburg writes - and sometimes directs - Hollywood blockbuster comedy films. His "best known for" list is nearly identical to his entire filmography: the "Meet The Parents" trilogy, the "Zoolander" films, "I Love You, Man", "Along Came Polly" and "Why Him?". Whether he is exploring more mundane scenarios with everyday characters or the outlandishly satirical world of Zoolander, Hamburg evokes hilarity while also giving us plenty of cultural food for thought - particularly about the challenges that come with being a guy. While he is far too humble to acknowledge the immense cultural impact of his own work, a deep dive into his films reveals how Hamburg's thematic exploration of "guyhood" has helped us evolve in our conception of and reflections about men. In his interview we explore how he exploits men's discomfort with intimacy, vulnerability, conflict and societal expectations for comedy gold by simply reflecting his own experiences and what he observes in the world around him.

Sandra Dewey was until recently president of business operations and production at Warner Media's HBO MAX, TBS, TNT and TruTV. In this interview host Dan Mackenzie encourages Sandra to explore the sociological culture and power structures in the entertainment business as she has observed and experienced them. From the expansive vantage point of of an exemplary career marked both by material success and humanitarian contribution, Sandra offers compelling insights about everything from the women's support programs she initiated to sexual harassment to boardroom dynamics and beyond. She specifically addresses how the power imbalance between the genders is slowly shifting in Hollywood, how she has personally endeavored to move that needle, and what still needs to happen. Along the way Sandra shares entertaining anecdotes, observations and advice for both young women and men in the business.

Daniel Mackenzie interviews multi-media creator Steve Connell about his personal background, experience in various performative art mediums, the often radically outspoken creative advocacy for women in his work and his evolving understanding about the changing role of men in contemporary society.